Rajasthan: Govt teachers asked to monitor illegal bajri mining

JAIPUR: A day after a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Bhilwara district issued an order directing government teachers in Jahajpura block to be posted at check-posts to keep a tab on illegal bajri mining in the area, school education minister Govind Singh Dostara announced its revocation on Twitter late on Wednesday, stating that an explanation has been sought from the SDM who issued it.

Tuesday’s order directed teachers to assist police officials at the check-posts from 10pm to 6am every day, inspect trucks passing by and, if any illegal activity is found going on in the area, then immediately inform the district collector. The teachers appointed on the duty started their work on Wednesday.

The order was issued a day after Dotasra clarified on Twitter that government teachers cannot be appointed for absurd tasks or ‘begaars’.

Slamming the order, vice-president of Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Teachers’ Association Vipin Sharma has demanded that teachers should be equipped with AK-47 for their security. “Many IAS officers and police officials have lost their lives to control illegal bajri mining. There have been incidents when drivers have crushed people under trucks if they were stopped for interrogation. If officials want teachers to be posted on such dangerous duty, then they should be given AK-47 for their security. We need final orders from the government to put an end to such orders,” said Sharma. This is not the first time when such an illogical order has been issued for government teachers. Two days ago, the Karauli district education officer issued orders to appoint teachers to entertain people in quarantine centres. Similarly, Kishanpura block panchayat elementary education officer, Baran district , directed teachers to keep a watch on social distancing in a wedding. All the orders were later cancelled.

A government teacher said, “It has become a trend to appoint government teachers for any kind of work. When the minister has already made it clear that government teachers cannot be appointed for such absurd work, then why are these orders being issued? If such orders are issued, then our association will have to write to the government to cancel them. Directions should be issued to all district collectors and district education officers to prevent them from issuing these orders.”